I was wondering why Jaebeom (Jay Park) had to leave so abruptly from Korea. I knew Koreans were extremely nationalistic, but I didn’t think it would go to the point where he had to stop singing. The normal train of thought would be that you don’t have to like a member, as long as you like the rest, and keep making the music. Unfortunately, the music isn’t enough to support a singer or performer in this day and age. Album sales have dropped and everything is digital and can be easily downloaded online, legally or illegally. I’m guilty of watching a lot of everything on Youtube nowadays. Anyhow you tend to see a lot of commercials with their appearances in Thailand or other Asian countries. I just watched one with 2PM doing a commercial for a Thai snack company with Jaebeom in it. In Korea after Jaebeom left, 2PM essentially dropped from the radar from performing and making appearances and I just assumed it was normal damage control to let the public cool off. I thought with Jaebeom leaving the country, that was a bit extreme when an apology should of been enough. I now understand why things unfolded this way.
In this Discovery Channel video of Rain, JYP basically states that with the coming of the digital age, which hit Korea fast and hard they basically were the first in the world to have the music industry crash. They had to find other ways to create revenue streams such as advertisements, endorsements, appearances, acting, and performances etc. The product is not music anymore, they are selling the individual or star. They basically have no choice, but to treat their image extremely serious because that is basically what they count on to make money. Jaebeom had to go to help the remaining members and do some major damage control on himself at least for a period of time to show he is sorry. We all know corporate sponsors are all about image and they do not want to hire damaged goods or anything with scandal. It seems kind of harsh, but what they did makes sense so they can recover later.
In the special, Rain even said that he had trouble with sensors with Rainism. I guess Korea is just as ass backwards as Japanese society. Something neither time nor technology can cure.
To watch the whole show on Rain click here: Rain on Hip Korea Discover Channel
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